Ambulance fares for transporting patients and deceased persons at Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH) have been increased by 30 per cent.
The new fare list was approved during an emergency meeting titled “Re-evaluation and Rationalisation of Ambulance Fares” held at the hospital’s conference room on Monday.
Shahadat Hossain, mayor of Chattogram City Corporation and chairman of the Hospital Management Committee, attended the session as the chief guest.
During the meeting, Shahadat issued a stern warning that no additional money beyond the fixed rates may be collected. He added that if any complaint is proven, the overcharged amount must be returned to the victim, and legal action will be taken against those responsible.
The meeting was presided over by CMCH Director Brig Gen Mohammad Taslim Uddin. Representatives from the Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) and leaders of the Chattogram Ambulance Owners Cooperative Society were also in attendance.
Mohammad Yusuf, president of the organisation, explained that they had initially proposed a 50 per cent hike due to the rising costs of fuel, spare parts, and maintenance. Following discussions, a consensus was reached for a 30 per cent increase.
Under the new regulations, outside commercial ambulances are strictly prohibited from entering hospital premises. However, there will be no restrictions on patients or relatives using their own private vehicles for transport.
In a bid to reduce traffic congestion, the mayor ordered a ban on ambulance parking on the main road stretching from Oli Khan Mosque to Probartak Mor.
He noted that a vast number of patients travel from various districts across the Chattogram division daily, and parked vehicles on the road cause significant public suffering.
Ambulances must now park at designated spots: the entrance of the Panchlaish Residential Area and the empty land belonging to the Public Works Department (PWD) adjacent to the United Nations (UN) Park.
The decision to revise fares follows an incident on Sunday involving a dispute over an ambulance fare to Sonaimuri, Noakhali.
The disagreement led to a scuffle between members of the ambulance owners’ association and NCP activists near the CMC Hospital’s east gate, prompting the emergency evaluation of the fare structure a day later.
